+ SAR, CB AND FRS -
Amateur Radio is used to varying degrees in Search and Rescue
operations depending upon local resources, conditions and situations. I
started in SAR over 35 years ago, and continue to be involved albeit in a
reduced capacity.
When searching for a lost person every available
means of communicating should be considered.
When involved in SAR (and certain other public service work) CB
still has a role to play...especially in rural areas. For example, while
searching for a lost hunter a few years ago some of us were monitoring CB
channel 9 (27.065 MHz). The search was shortened and resulted in a happy
ending, when the lost hunter made his way out to a road, flagged down another
hunter, whose call for assistance on “channel 9” was received up by one of
our mobile SAR units.
Over the past few years there had been a proliferation of FRS
(Family Radio Service) radios. It seems like everyone has them...(except
me). I know of a few incidents where lost and/or injured persons have used
FRS radios to call for help. There was a nationally reported incident on
Mt. Rainier a few years ago when two young boys used a FRS radio to summon help,
and lives were saved.
The Siskiyou County SAR teams knows that from Mt. Shasta (14,192
ft.), the range of these low power signals may be a hundred miles or more!
Dave Nicholson, KB6PNT, Siskiyou County SAR Coordinator, recently called my
attention to a plan that has been developed for the FRS. If you are
involved in SAR, we suggest that check it out at: http://www.rescuenet.org/frs/
I remember one incident (this one involved a cell phone) where the
stranded and injured party made several extra and unnecessary calls after a
distress call had been acknowledged (understandable under stress). They
also monitored continuously, and depleted their cell phone battery, with a
result of losing contact with the rescue team.
If you are ever in contact with a lost and/or injured person and
their battery reserves are limited (no matter what radio service is involved),
establish a frequency where the SAR unit will maintain a continuous radio
watch...and TELL THEM YOU ARE!
Advise the calling party to turn their rig OFF, but to turn it ON
and call the SAR command post anytime their situation/condition changes.
If they have a watch, make a schedule with them, and instruct them to turn their
radio ON at a pre-arranged time schedule. (Every half hour or whatever
makes sense). Then BE SURE to call them ON SCHEDULE to give them progress
reports, updates on the rescue effort, or just to re-assure them.